African Adventures: Beyond Safaris, Sun Hats and Sand Dunes

Head to Namibia for African adventures, magnificent wildlife, wanderlusty lodges and enormous dunes. But there is more… So much more…

As we discovered on our self-drive safari through Namibia in December 2014. It might be a bit of a cliche, but Namibia once again proves that sometimes it is about the journey as much as the destination.

The Big Picture

No one returns from Namibia without a sense of meaning. There is something of true beauty to be found in its wide open spaces and big skies. Whether driving along endless stretches of road with no car in sight. Or staring out over the vast Etosha pan as wildlife emerges from the mirage on the horizon. Or sipping an ice cold beer as the candy floss dusk sky fills up with more stars than you could ever imagine.

The dusk sky turns into candy floss sky porn from our camp site at Okaukuejo.A long exposure of the night sky over Spitzkoppe.

The Road Less Traveled

We get it – you are here to see wildlife. And we can guarantee you will see plenty. But quiet gravel roads sometimes deliver a simpler magic – a reminder that the everyday can be pretty special too. Spotting the first sign of human life as a child and her father walk down a dusty road seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A cow stands at a defiant distance from a nearby tree as the blistering heat of the midday sun beats down – nature’s take on minimalism. A herd of goats “stop the traffic”.

A father and child walk down a dusty road in the middle of nowhere.A cow and a tree – nature’s take on minimalism.Goats! (You have been warned)

The Simple Life

As interesting and photogenic as the Himba and Herero (indigenous) people are, it is even more interesting and photogenic observing the basic ways in which modern life has made its way to rural Namibians. A young girl emerges from nowhere as we stop next to her “crystal” stand just outside Spitzkoppe. Selling rocks straight off the ground to tourists seems like capitalism at its best. A donkey cart with Nike’s swoosh branding – a subliminal message to the donkeys to “just do it”.

A Himba girl covered in the red clay of Namibia.The crystal sales girl with Spitzkoppe as a backdrop.Just do it – The Nike swoosh donkey cart.

A Moment between Moments

Maybe it is because of the way one’s day is structured around game viewing (early morning and late afternoon game drives). Maybe it is the oppressive heat in the middle of the day. But something about Namibia affords you the opportunity to enjoy the moments between moments. Staring into the distance. Deep in thought. Drinking mid-afternoon tea at Onguma’s Fort overlooking a waterhole as a storm rolls in. Taking a pitstop next to the road – the sliver of shade making you feel like a champ. Sitting on the deck of the camp with a gazillion little fish below.

After a long, busy morning of photography, we finally managed to steal a moment over a cup of tea and some sandwiches – taken at The Fort part of the Onguma Private Game Reserve just outside Etosha’s Eastern gate.The rather long slog from Cape Town to Windhoek called for intermittent snack breaks.Bush camp bliss at Onguma.

Share Your African Adventures

We definitely cannot wait to go back to Namibia. Yes, you can definitely hit all the big ticket tourist attractions in one trip but there will always be something new to discover. So if there is any magic you think we need to search for next time, please let us know. Share your African adventures in Namibia (and beyond) in the comments below.

This is how Namibia makes you feel 🙂

Planning your roadtrip?

Namibia is the perfect place to take on an independent African adventure. Nothing beats digging a little deeper and really getting to know a destination.

Looking for some tips to plan your adventure? Then download our Free Namibia Travel Guide. Packed with more than 100 pages of amazing photography to inspire your trip and loads of useful tips for the independent traveler.